Fall
Volume 2, Issue 3
2011
From the Ground Up A Gardening and Native Plants Quarterly
Colorado State University Extension-Pueblo County 701 Court Street · Suite C · Pueblo, CO 81003 · 719-583-6566 · coopext_pueblo@mail.colostate.edu FABULOUS FAMILIES
FRANKENIACEAE by Linda McMulkin, CSU Extension The Frankeniaceae, or Frankenia, plant family is an ancient group of plants that inhabit areas of the world with mineralized, often salty, soil. Members of the family are shrubs, subshrubs, or herbs with opposite leaves that are small and nearly needle-like. The margins of the leaves roll inward (revolute) and the foliage has a slightly musky scent. Salt glands are present on stems and leaves. Flowers are usually solitary at the end of the branch, radial (round) with either 4 or 5 petals and sepals. The sepals are fused into a short, strongly ribbed tube. The petals may be bi-lobed or fringed and are clawed at the base. The Frankeniaceae family includes approximately 70 recognized species. They are most often reported in desert and coastal ecosystems. The USDA Plant Database lists only 5 species in the United States, with no species reported west of the Mississippi River.
Pueblo’s Own Frankenia by Greg Nolan, Native Plant Master, 2011 Frankenia jamesii, or James seaheath, is the only species of the Frankeniaceae plant family found in eastern Colorado, with other small populations in New Mexico and Texas. Although it has never been reported in most of Colorado, it is locally abundant in Pueblo and Fremont counties. It can be found readily on the bluffs near The Pueblo Nature Center, Pueblo Reservoir, within Pueblo West, and above the Arkansas River. To find the plant simply look on, above and below the shale escarpments near the river. Although common near the river it can also be found fairly far away from the river and is a common Pueblo County prairie resident. However, it is still pretty confined to the ecological zone commonly called the shale barrens. One would be hard pressed to find the plant on the open prairie away from the drainages that form the shale plateaus common to the Arkansas River through Pueblo. Continued on Page 2
INDEX Fabulous Families 1 Frankenia jamesii 1 &2 Perennial People 2 Food Safety 3 Harmonious Hardscapes 3 & 4 Know Your Natives 4&5 Roses 6
Pueblo West Gardening 7 Wicked Weeds 8 Pygmie goats 8&9 Ag workshop 9 Interesting Insects 10 Colo. Master Gardener 11 Garden Walks 12
Above: Frankenia jamesii flowers, photo ©Al Schneider, swcoloradowildflowers. com. Below: F. jamesii plants at Pueblo Reservoir, photo Orla O‘Callaghan
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The plant is a low growing shrub that is generally only a few inches to 12 inches in height and a few inches to 18 inches or so in width. Frankenia jamesii loves the alkalinity of the shale barrens and tolerates salt well. It has small white flowers in the spring and early summer and has small green leaves that stay green deep into the fall and it greens up early in the spring. James seaheath seems to prefer the rocky groundcover of the shale plateaus therefore it probably would not transplant well or thrive in a typical Colorado yard. This unique plant is best enjoyed in its native habitat and will enhance any short prairie hike on the shale plateaus above the Arkansas River. PERENNIAL PEOPLE
ZACK STANIFER by Elizabeth Catt, CSU Extension It might be news to some, but Campbell‘s Flowers and Greenhouses has a new captain at the helm: Zack Stanifer. Zack has been growing plants and flowers with his Dad, Gary Stanifer, for a few years, but is now running all three Campbell‘s locations and leading the business into its next decades. Zack admitted his real passion is growing plants and feels most at home working around them. As an avid gardener, Zack said one of the perks of growing and selling plants is the opportunity to try different things in his home garden. This summer, Campbell‘s has branched out and experimented with hydroponically growing micro greens in the greenhouses. Zack described the various growing mediums they have tested and he said one or two have shown real potential for good crop production. The best so far has been a burlap product that is directly seeded and floated over a mildly fertilized solution. Zack said he has been injecting an organic soy bean based (10-4-3) fertilizer with surprisingly positive results. He also Poinsettias are started uses a mycorrhizal-enhanced potting soil and from cutting in the indicated he is leaning more and more towards summer for sale beginning in November. organic methods. This Christmas season, Photos taken at Campbell‘s will sell organically grown Poinsettias Campbell‘s Flowers. in a huge variety of colors and sizes. (It is always Above: September, 2011. worth a visit just to see them and all the beautiful Photo by L. Christmas color on display.) McMulkin. One of the renovations Zack is undertaking Below, late November, 2009, is to build more greenhouses to overwinter a larger quantity of perennials. He also continues to expand his repertoire of hanging baskets and Photo by Don Ubel. planted containers. New for next year, Campbell‘s will carry the Masterpiece Series of Lupines. They will also carry most of the Plant Select plants that are recommended for the Front Range. When asked which plants were big hits this year at Campbell‘s, he did not hesitate to name Pink Lemonade Blueberries and Black Petunias. He also talked about three plants he feels are underused in Pueblo: Salvia darcyi ‗Pscarl‘, Vermillion Bluffs Mexican Sage, a Plant Select plant, Perennial Hardy Geraniums, and Foxtail lilies, Eremurus sp. Zack said his personal favorite shrubs were: Hydrangea paniculata, Viburnum carlesii. Korean Spice Viburnum, and Daphne x transatlantica, Summer Ice Daphne. Zack always has his eyes open looking for new plants to try for Pueblo and continues to experiment with ways to grow and use plants in our challenging soils and climate. 2
Storing Fall Vegetables for Food Safety by Lois Illick, CSU Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences, Pueblo County
Fall fruits and vegetables, like apples, carrots, pumpkins, winter squash and onions store well over the winter months. Controlling several conditions can help prevent spoilage and lengthen storage time. Temperature: The best temperature range for storage is 32˚ - 40˚ F. An ―extra‖ refrigerator is a perfect place, if you have one available. Root crops like carrots can stay in the ground until needed as long as the soil doesn‘t go below 25˚F. This keeps the produce close to dormant and slows enzymes that decay the items. Humidity: The best humidity range for storage is 50-70%--hard to do in Colorado! Higher humidity leads to mold and decay. Lower humidity leads to withering. Air circulation: Although it sounds counter-productive to maintaining humidity, allow air circulation to prevent conditions that encourage bacterial spoilage. Safety: Avoid long term storage of produce with breaks, soft spots, bruises, mold or other decay. Use damaged produce soon after harvesting. The saying is ―one bad apple...‖, you can finish the rest! Special Considerations: Tomatoes: Do NOT can tomatoes harvested from frost-killed or dead vines (like the ones you hang in your garage!) Harvest green tomatoes and can or freeze them. Potatoes: If potatoes have green areas, cut off the green areas and use immediately. Those areas make them bitter and can be potentially toxic. If they start to sprout, use soon. Potatoes can be preserved by freezing them. Wash potatoes well to avoid C.botulinum development. Apples: Store apples separately from other produce. They produce ethylene gas that speeds up other produce‘s enzymes and causes them to decay. Each fall fruit and vegetable requires slightly different storage. For more storage ideas, see the CSU Extension fact sheet Storage of Home-Grown Vegetables at http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/ garden/07601.html . Find guidelines for food preservation at http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/ pubs.html#nutr_pres . If you have questions, please contact our office for more information.
HARMONIOUS HARDSCAPES
PATHWAYS by Elizabeth Catt, CSU Extension Pathways can be an alluring hardscape feature, enticing you to move further into a garden either directly or indirectly. In a formal garden, a path can direct your view straight across a vista to bring your eye (and sometimes your feet) through it to another object; perhaps a fountain, a bench, an ornamental urn. At other times a winding path calls to your sense of curiosity; what can be around that next bend? There are design pluses to each of these path configurations. In a traditional garden, a straight path in a formal setting can perhaps reflect the architecture of a home. A symmetrical garden layout can be very calming Photo by Warren Nolan and dramatic. It insists you have very specific vistas and direction through and around its borders. The simple symmetry and balanced proportion of a formal layout can feel peaceful as well as elegant. A curving, winding path that pulls you along this way, then that way, changes your perspective with every curve. Winding paths work well in long narrow side yards, making a thin area feel deeper and wider than it actually is. In a rustic garden a curving path reflects nature. Continued on Page 4 3
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Think about hiking through the woods and how most paths there wind this way and that around rocks, trees and shrubs. A natural garden with a curving path unfolds gradually, letting you see a little at a time. It can slow you down and invite you on at the same time. It doesn‘t matter what the material of a path is as long as it fits into the overall garden theme. A straight path of pea gravel with a brick edging could work in a formal setting, and a curving path of pea gravel with a cobble or stone edging works well in a more natural garden. Flagstone could be cemented on a concrete base in a formal garden or placed on a gravel base with spaces between for a more natural look. The design criteria is to find your ―garden style‖ and follow it. KNOW YOUR NATIVES
NATIVE PLANT GEOLOGY by Ed Roland, Native Plant Master, 2009 You're on a high mountain trail admiring the morphology of Alpine Chiming Bells and you notice an outcrop of pinkish granite with its mixture of feldspar, mica and quartz glistening in the sun. Question: What does this specific granite have to do with your examination of Mertensia alpina? In a general sense, almost everything. It's essentially a case of "cause and effect." The outcrop represents the cause: the fact that you're on a mountain at a specific altitude, with a specific soil composition, moisture, drainage and radiation of the sun that meets the exacting requirements of the plant. Even the mix of gases taken in and expelled during its photosynthesis are largely the result of geologic forces and processes (along with paleo life-forms spewing out oxygen as a physiological byproduct). To learn about geology is to learn about the essential matrix of life on earth, or anywhere else for that matter. (It's why NASA sends "rovers" and probes to places like Mars searching for its essential ingredients.) In her Botany of the Pikes Peak Region, Dr. Tass Kelso points out that "Ecological stories intertwine with those of geology: the botanical landscape of today is framed by the underlying remnants of ancient volcanoes, sand dunes, oceans and glaciers." This "intertwining" of the geological matrix is nothing new. When Darwin climbed aboard the "Beagle" in 1831, arguably the most important book he took along was Charles Lyell's hot-off-the-press Pike‘s Peak Drawing by E. Roland Principles of Geology, which he later said was essential to his comprehension of species mutation and evolution. As Darwin learned, one of the primary advantages of studying nature as a generalist is the potential to develop an interdisciplinary approach. So, what can you reasonably expect to learn about geology that will increase your understanding of "native plant ecology?" First, you'll want to be able to identify types of rocks by their composition. There are many, many reference sources that go through the i.d. process, including simple dichotomous keys. Rocks are important because they degrade to specific minerals, soil types and chemistry through weathering and erosion, and their composition is largely determined by which geological formation they help compose. A geological formation, in turn, is the result of specific geological processes and part of the larger timetable of earth's history. For example, let's say that the plant communities you want to see are in the Niobrara Formation, which is well exposed in Lake Pueblo State Park. Since the Niobrara was once the bottom of the Cretaceous Sea, you can expect to see lots of limestone and plants that are alkali-philic, or at least tolerant of higher pH soils. Continued on page 5 4
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On the other hand, when you find those Alpine Chiming Bells on Barr Trail near the top of Pike's Peak, you'll also be looking at "Pike's Peak Granite" (the solidified igneous mix noted above), which is to be expected within the huge 1,300 sq. mile batholith of the same name. It's important to note that the geological formations which are foundational to native plant habitats are limited to those exposed on the surface of the earth, where you can see, feel and touch them. You'll also need to know that because of uplifts (which geologists call "orogenies"), faults, and other geologic processes, the same formations and rocks can appear at quite different altitudes and at locations which are often hundreds of miles apart. (Just one of many examples: the gray, green and brown sedimentary deposits named for Minturn, Co. at 7.800 ft. are extensively exposed on Crestone Peak in the Sangres.) Once you're reasonably sure of your formation, and generally how it got there (see suggested references), you'll know what to expect in rock and soil types. You'll be able, after some practice, to i.d. the various subdivisions of the igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic triumvirate so that your matrix rock is not just a granite, for example, but a quartzGeneralized view of front range formations. Drawing by E. Roland monzonite with a specific fabric of minerals. Knowing the formation will also help you become proficient in rock i.d., and conversely, being able to i.d. the rocks will help you confirm the geological formation you're treading on. (This is the kind of inductive learning process that would warm the heart of any 19th century naturalist.) A few other suggestions that will help you focus on the geology of native plant habitats: 1. Learn the geologic time scale. Geological formations are largely understood by reference to this agreed-upon measuring stick. 2. Learn the geological formations and read geologists' views on how they occurred for the specific area(s) you're interested in. Colorado is a very interesting state for geologists, so there's a plethora of information available. 3. Get familiar with Colorado's geological map, which shows formations and general categories of rocks and soils. The Colorado Geologic Highway Map, $6.95 at local bookstores and visitors centers such as Garden of the Gods, is a useful reference. 4. Get your hands on some of the geological guide books for Colorado and use them. You can, of course, expand on this by studying structural geology to learn about the forces and specific events that produced your formation, about the minerals on the periodic table that make up the rocks you'll be examining, or any of a myriad of other environmental issues which come under the broad heading of "geology." But observation in the field -- actually looking at the rocks, envisioning how they got there, how they've weathered and eroded to help form an essential "matrix for growth," will best show you how the geology of an area is highly relevant to the viability of any native plant species and the other biota that help make up its habitat. Editor‘s note: Ed Roland provided a list of references on Colorado geology, which is available on the CSU Extension-Pueblo County website at http://pueblo.colostate.edu/hor/hort.shtml. 5
Winter Protection For Roses by Marilynn Chambers, Colorado Master Gardener, 2000 At 10 degrees Fahrenheit and below, many of the most popular roses such as hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras and most of the climbers will begin to sustain damage from cold weather. They can be protected with a little effort. If your roses have been healthy through the growing season and go into full dormancy before the temperatures plummet, they stand an excellent chance of surviving winter without problems. There are two steps you can take to help them into dormancy – stop fertilizing by September 1 and stop deadheading the flowers. Both fertilizing and deadheading encourage new growth and new growth is particularly susceptible to damage from icy temperatures. Instead of flowers, you will want to encourage hips in the fall as their development is part of the natural slowing down process. The major hazards roses face in winter are desiccation of the canes from drying winds and cycles of freezing and thawing to which the bud union is especially vulnerable. Own-root roses are hardier than grafted, but many still need protection. Throughout the fall, continue to provide adequate irrigation, but as the weather cools, roses will need less water. Clean up fallen leaves and other debris from the area to prevent overwintering of insects and disease. When nights are getting frosty and the plants are dormant, mound soil around their bases to about a foot above the bud unions. To prevent exposure of roots, bring the soil from another part of the garden rather than digging nearby soil. When it gets colder yet and the ground starts to freeze, cover with a thick layer of leaves, straw or other suitable mulch and top with something to hold the mulch in place. Alternatively, University of Illinois Extension some gardeners use protective devices such as cones filled with some type of insulating material. Rose canes can receive significant damage from drying winds. For long-caned roses that will be pruned back in spring, such as hybrid teas, cut the canes back to 3 or 4 feet high, tie them together and wrap them with burlap or some type of fabric mesh. Do not use plastic as a wrap. For climbers or any other type of rose that you will not prune in spring, leave the canes long, tie them together and wrap them. Provide water in winter every 3 to 4 weeks if nature does not do so. Tree roses are extremely tender. If they are in containers it is simple to just put them in a cool garage or basement. If they are planted in the ground, dig them up and put them in containers for the winter. Or, dig only one side of the roots so that the plant can lie on its side, secure it in place with stakes and cover the entire rose with soil and mulch. In spring remove the protective coverings gradually. Use forsythia as a timing hint—when forsythia shrubs are in bloom, you can safely remove the protective soil from your roses. Some roses that are hardy to minus 20 degrees and need no special cold weather care include old roses such as alba, gallica, damask, bourbon, and rugosas. Well-known varieties, Rosas foetida ‗Bicolor‘ and ‗Persiana‘, R. glauca, and R. harisonii, are also extremely cold hardy. Most David Austin® Roses, multifloras and Knock Out tm Roses need no special care. Editor‘s note: For more information on growing roses in Colorado, visit the Denver Rose Society website at http://www.denverrosesociety.org/. Garden Tip: Pansies Plant pansies in garden beds or containers for fall color. Pansies need partial sun and prefer loamy soil with some organic matter. Water periodically during the winter and the plants will bloom again next spring. 6
Gardening on the fringes of Pueblo West by Greg Nolan, Native Plant Master, 2011 I live on the west edge of Pueblo West where the wind is relentless, rain is sparse, and, as a gardener, all cards seem stacked against me. This year I ran a ghastly experiment on my yard and turned off the water. For reasons other than sheer laziness, you might ask why I would do such a ghastly deed to my plants and yard. This past spring; after three solid months of wind, parched earth, and no clouds on the horizon, I decided to throw in the trowel. I was tired of throwing away money on plants just to bring them home and sentence them to death row while throwing hundreds of dollars away on water. However, I was still not willing to rock over my entire yard. Two springs ago I dug a few flowering plants out of the bar ditch on the roadsides of Pueblo West. Interestingly enough, these plants have been doing very well in my yard and bloomed wildly last fall and this spring. This was an epiphany for me. Could I actually garden in Pueblo West without really gardening? Could plants grow without daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly care? Could I have a yard that needed no water from my hose? It seemed too good to be true. Those bar ditch plants inspired me. So, this year I turned the water off and gave up gardening Common roadside plants in Pueblo West that in favor of appreciating the efforts of others and the tenacity of the can be incorporated into native landscapes. plants that actually thrive in this environment. I decided to take the Photos by L. McMulkin. Native Plant Master courses through the CSU Extension Office, learn from my bar ditch plants, and evaluate what other Pueblo County native prairie plants actually thrived this year. I figured the plants that survived this year‘s drought could survive me as a minimalist gardener and my yard on the windblown fringe of Pueblo West. Through the Native Plant Master courses I have learned that plants that are native to the prairies around Pueblo are adapted to an extreme environment. These plants must grow in prevalent wind, low humidity, alkaline and heavy clay soil, and ongoing drought. This describes my yard perfectly. More importantly, I learned I must consider my aversion to gardening and my lack of desire to spend inordinate amounts of energy, time and money on the care of plants. In other words, I need plants that will take care of themselves and grow despite my best efforts to ignore them. After a long hot spring and summer I found areas of encouragement in my yard. Plants that thrived with no water and no maintenance are three leaf sumac, cottonwoods, Nanking cherry, wild plum, side oats grama, prairie primrose, golden asters, giant eveningstar, iris, rabbit bush, vetch, yarrow, sages, and many others. These are all keepers. I found some of the native grass seed I planted last year had actually come up in these drought conditions. I also found that my pond, long neglected, had signs of life, so I redesigned my pond and found that pond lilies, water iris, and mud plantain are thriving. They take little to no care; they are keepers. As a result of my little experiment to turn off the water, I have been pleasantly surprised and encouraged to pick up the trowel again. I plan to use the remainder of the year to update the hardscape of my yard, remove the death row victims, start to move in more plants that are native to Pueblo County, and reseed some bare areas using various grama grasses and other native grasses. Next year, I plan to have a new improved yard that will take little to no care, blend seamlessly into the surrounding prairie and require no water though my hose. The experiment continues. Garden Tip: Controlling aspen leaf spot Black spots on aspen leaves have been an issue this year. To reduce winter cover for the pathogen, rake up and destroy fallen aspen leaves. Do not compost. 7
WICKED WEEDS
TRAINING ANIMALS TO HELP WITH WEED CONTROL by Emily Lockard, CSU Extension
Training livestock to eat weeds involves a few simple steps. First, identify the weed you are trying to target. While some weeds are very nutritious, some are poisonous or contain toxins with negative side effects. The more nutritious a weed is, the more positive feedback an animal will get from consuming it and the opposite is true for poisonous or toxic weeds. Know what you are dealing with to avoid problems! Keep in mind that young animals tend to be more willing to try new foods and females will teach their offspring. Think of this when you would like to spread the knowledge throughout a herd. What is the training process? Offer livestock an unfamiliar, but nutritious food twice a day for four days to make them more comfortable trying new foods. On the fifth day offer them the weed you are trying to get them to eat. You can spray a little molasses on the weed, to entice them to eat it, but this only works if they have prior experience with molasses. Using a spray bottle to LIGHTLY spray the weed with molasses will suffice. Feeding them the weed with a little molasses for one or two days, then feeding them the weed without molasses for a few days will help solidify the positive feedback from the nutrients in the weed. Finally, if they are eating the weed after being offered it for a few days, you can transition to the field by sectioning off a smaller area where the weed is present. This will give them a chance to practice what they have learned before you put them back into the rotational grazing system you have set up. After one or two days of practicing in the field, they should be eating the weed and their peers should pick up the new eating habit! For more information contact Emily Lockard at Emily.lockard@colostate.edu or contact Kathy Voth at Livestock for Landscapes who has perfected this technique at kvoth@livestockforlandscapes.com. Emily has invited Kathy Voth to speak in Pueblo. If you would like more information on this event please contact Emily at the CSU Extension/Pueblo County Office.
Pygmie goats eat weeds, but‌By Phyllis Adkins, Colorado Master Gardener, Otero County, 2010 When I moved to the farm, I wanted to embrace all of farm life. I just had to have farm animals, so I rescued some of almost everything, including Pygmy goats. We started with 3 pygmies, a billy and 2 nannies. Soon, we had 11 pygmies; who knew they can have up to 4 kids at a time! My husband was worried about expense, but I told him no problem, they would eat the weeds, and they did! They also ate the rose bushes, perennials and girdled my trees! Girdling is when they chew the bark all the way around the trunk. Unfortunately, pygmies are small, so the girdle is very low on Photo courtesy of Scott Bauer, the trunk. This makes it almost impossible to salvage the tree, unless you Ag Research Services want a bush. The billies can also girdle the trunk by rubbing their horns on the bark and scratching their head. The goats especially loved nibbling on evergreen seedlings, and I just happened to purchase over 1,000 seedlings over the last 2 years from the extension office. The new growths on both the evergreens and the deciduous trees were most tasty. Goats are great for controlling weeds in an area where you do not landscape and garden. Continued on Page 9 8
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We decided making a fenced area was the way to go. But, keeping pygmies fenced in is a chore in itself! They climb the fence, squeeze under the fence, the babies can go thru the holes in the wire, and they get on their huts and jump out. After we got the fencing built so they could not get out, we still had weeds outside the fenced area! Fencing 30+ acres is expensive, so I am looking for a portable fence application that will contain the goats while they control the weeds. Regular electric fencing really doesn't work. The single strand wire is useless and even 3 strands aren't efficient, because they go between, crawl under or over the fencing. As I am writing this and thinking it through, I remember the solar power controls that are portable and if I use the wire netting rather than the strand wires, maybe it will work. We have tried tying them out, but with eleven goats they soon wrapped the leads around themselves and appeared to be one big ball of wiggly goats. The goats do an excellent job on the weeds themselves, there is not a hint of a weed in their pen. They eat almost anything that doesn't move; barnyard grass, bindweed, foxtail, quackgrass - any grass, really. They even clear out the tumble weeds and thistle. Surprisingly, goats eat thorns and stickers as well as smooth weeds! There are times that a little pruning on the lower branches of some older, thick-trunked trees is nice also, and goats are good for that. I suppose I shouldn't have told my husband that goats would be no trouble and we wouldn't have to weed. Goats may not be easier or cheaper than a weed eater, but they are awfully cute.
2011 Pueblo County Building Farmers and Ranchers Program Building Capacity, Building Community A series of 8 evening classes to provide intermediate and experienced farmers with the tools to refine and enhance their current practices; and to help new farmers explore farming as a business. Registration and Applications due Friday, October 14th Wednesdays October 26—December 14 Dinner: 5:30—6:30 p.m. Class: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
For more information contact CSU Extension—Pueblo County (719) 583-6566
Registration is limited to 20, $160 for all 8 sessions CSU Extension—Pueblo County 701 Court St., Suite C Pueblo, CO 81003 http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/Pueblo/index.shtml
Garden Tip: Fall and winter irrigation Shorter days and cooler temperatures mean that landscape plants need less water in the fall. Ease up on lawn and woody plant irrigation to improve your landscape‘s entrance into dormancy. BUT, with the exception of dry-land natives, don‘t forget to water your landscape plants monthly during the winter. You don‘t need to turn on your irrigation system, just drag out the soaker hoses and sprinklers on warm days. For more information on fall and winter watering, see CSU Extension Fact Sheet 7.211. 9
INTERESTING INSECTS
HABITAT FOR POLLINATORS by Edith Brideau, Colorado Master Gardener, 2007 Pollinators assist most of the world's flowering plants. Without them, humans and wildlife would not have an abundant food supply. Pollinators include species of ants, bats, bees, beetles, birds, butterflies, flies, moths and wasps. There are some simple things we can do to provide habitat for pollinators. If you‘re going to plant a new tree this fall or next spring, consider a flowering crabapple favored by bees. Make sure your landscape includes a variety of shrubs, annuals and perennials that flower throughout the seasons. Include native plants in your landscape. They are adapted to our area so they require less maintenance than cultivated ornamentals. Reputable local nurseries and garden centers sell native plants beneficial to pollinators. There are also outlets for native plant seeds. If you want colorful butterflies, it helps to provide habitat for their caterpillars. CSU Extension Fact Sheet 5.504, http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05504.html, provides a list and photographs of butterflies often found in Colorado, along with lists of plants that are beneficial for them and their caterpillars. Butterflies are also attracted to fresh animal droppings, urine, rotting fruits, and slightly salty water. There are many bee species in Colorado, including the non-native honeybee, native bumblebees, and several solitary bees. The species differ in appearance and nesting habits, but all feed on nectar and pollen. Flowers are more attractive to foraging bees if they are in a patch at least a yard in diameter. Bees often ignore the same species in smaller patches. To attract the most bees, provide many shapes and sizes of blooms. Bees tend to prefer flowers that are blue, purple, white or yellow. Some plants (such as Manhattan Euonymus) are fly-pollinated, so don‘t place them near your front door or an outdoor dining area. Hummingbirds are attracted to red, pink, and orange flowers and are often found feeding on trumpet or tube shaped flowers. You can provide nectar for hummingbirds in feeders, by making four parts of water to one part granulated sugar (no artificial sweeteners, honey or fruit juice). Clean your feeders every few days to prevent mold (and to get rid of ants that will find their way into the feeders). Be very careful about using pesticides. Read the label before purchasing, then follow the directions. Avoid using these products during the day, when pollinators are active. As you are in the garden watering, deadheading and weeding, take a moment to watch and listen to the hum of the variety of pollinators enjoying your hospitality. Editor‘s note: The Xerces Society website ( http://www.xerces.org/) has many fact sheets on encouraging native pollinators, including backyard conservation practices, plant lists, and how to build nesting sites. Click on Publications, then Fact Sheets.
CSU Extension Youth Programs Enrollment for Pueblo Youth Naturally and 4-H begins soon. Please contact CSU Extension-Pueblo County at 719-583-6566 for more information. If you need any special accommodation(s) to participate in any Colorado State University Extension event, please contact CSU Extension-Pueblo County at 719-583-6566. Your request must be submitted at least five (5) business days in advance of the event. Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
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2012 Colorado Master Gardenersm Training In the Evening! by Linda McMulkin, CSU Extension
Colorado Master Gardener (CMG) and Colorado Gardener Certificate (CGC) training provides research-based information on topics of interest to gardeners in southeastern Colorado. The 2012 schedule includes 60 hours of classes on garden related subjects such as soil and soil improvement, building successful vegetable and herbaceous ornamental gardens, plant health issues including insects and diseases, lawn care, weed management, and how to plant and care for young trees. We are really excited to be able to offer evening CMG/CGC training in 2012. Classes, which begin January 23, will be held on Monday and Wednesday evenings at the Pueblo City/County Health Department from 6 to 9 p.m. Classes continue until Wednesday, March 29 (10 weeks). Most of the classes will be delivered through CSU‘s well developed distance education system; classes are taught by CSU Extension specialists and agents, with local CSU Extension staff and experienced CMGs assisting locally. Registration deadline is December 2, 2011. Colorado Master Gardener volunteers assist local CSU Extension horticulture staff in delivering gardening information to the community to foster successful gardening practices. The Colorado Master Gardener (CMG) program is aimed at home gardeners who want to improve their personal skills and to help others become better gardeners. CMGs complete their training by sharing their knowledge with others in our office, at educational booths, during garden tours and nature walks, and in schools. CMGs perform a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer service each to CSU Extension during their first (apprentice) year and 24 hours in subsequent years. Several CMG volunteer activities are available on weekends and in the evening, so it is possible to complete the volunteer commitment while working. For those who don‘t choose to perform the volunteer hours, we offer the Colorado Gardener Certificate (CGC). Participants in the certificate program receive the same classroom instruction and materials as CMGs but pay a higher tuition in -lieu-of service. Certificates are awarded upon completion of the class work. Tuition for the Colorado Master Gardener training is $195 plus 50 hours of volunteer service. Colorado Gardener Certificate training tuition is $550, with no volunteer commitment. Tuition covers all print materials, lab supplies, and associated local expenses. Because Colorado Master Gardeners are representing both the University and Pueblo County, volunteer applicants complete an application, provide references, go through a background check and interview process before being accepted into the program. Colorado Gardener Certificate participants complete only the first page of the application and submit payment to be accepted into the training. Information brochures and applications are available at the CSU Extension office, 701 Court Street, Suite C, on our website http://pueblo.colostate.edu/hor/hort.shtml, or call 583-6566. Please feel free to call the office for more information about the program. 11
GARDEN WALKS
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY ANNUAL TRIAL GARDENS by Linda McMulkin, CSU Extension
On a recent trip to Fort Collins, I spent a morning in the Annual Trial Gardens on the Colorado State University campus. The light was clear and bright, the turf moist from morning irrigation, traffic on nearby College Avenue was light, and the flowers were showing their vivid colors to perfection. I‘ve visited the garden at 1401 Remington Street before, but never in early September. Most of the 1,000 varieties of annual bedding plants were thriving in the cool fall weather, although a few species were showing a reaction to cool evening temperatures. Above: Lay-out of annual beds allow Geraniums, verbena, sweet potato vine, sun coleus, and zinnias were observers to compare growth and stunning in the full sun beds and containers, while New Guinea flowering of similar varieties. Photo by Elizabeth Catt, July, 2011. impatiens and begonias were show stoppers in the lathe house. Below: Many of the annuals are also CSU works with seed companies to test newly introduced grown in containers. The light green annuals in our challenging environment. Many of the plants are sweet potato vine (Ipomoea) is very grown from cuttings in campus greenhouses and planted in the trial vigorous, growing between adjacent garden in May. Prior to planting, the beds are rototilled 6 to 8 inches containers and onto the sidewalk. Photo deep and organic matter and granular fertilizer is applied. Beds are by Linda McMulkin, September, 2011 irrigated and fertilized regularly, mulched with organic matter, and weeded by hand. Plants are grouped by water needs and then organized in the bed to allow side-by-side evaluation of plant characteristics. For example, 6 to 8 different red geraniums were planted in a bed. Varieties are labeled with the name of the plant and the company that submitted it for trial. In August, a group of green industry professionals, CSU staff and students, and Colorado Master Gardener volunteers from the area evaluate the plants on form, vigor, and flower characteristics. I took photos of my favorites and look forward to seeing the ―Best of...‖ list to see if my opinion agrees with the professionals and volunteers who evaluated the plants in August. The final list should be released soon. You can find the list and photos of the best annuals on the CSU Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture website at http://www.flowertrials.colostate.edu/index.php. Garden Tip: Plant Bulbs for Spring Color Plant spring flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths in late September through October. Spring flowering bulbs perform best in areas with full sun and well drained soil. Place in areas that are visible from the street or from living areas in your home. Plant at recommended depth (see CSU Extension Fact Sheet 7.410) and water periodically during the winter. Apply mulch after the soil cools to maintain soil moisture and temperature; dry leaves and evergreen boughs provide good protection.
Subscribe to this quarterly horticulture newsletter by contacting Carolyn at 583-6574. Available in paper and electronic formats. 12